Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
After 30 years of being a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension the towering pampas grasses still amaze me each fall. What energy and power that plant must have to grow over 12 feet tall each summer, just to die...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
While hiking recently I got to thinking about the various plants that stick to our sock and pants. Certainly, they are frustrating; but, as a plant geek, I wanted to know more.
Sticky plants attaching to clothes, hair, fur, and...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Now is the time to take soil tests. If you have plants that are not growing the way they should, a soil test might be needed to see if soil amendments are needed.
Soil amendments should be based on a soil test to know the amounts...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Some plants are perfect for Halloween. Bat flowers, devils claw, and corpse flower come to mind. Another creepy looking plant is doll's eyes. I'm not sure why dolls with staring, glass eyes are so scary, but they can be truly...
Parts of my backyard and woodland are covered with fallen pine needles. We have a large number of mature white pine trees that yearly drop their needles. Annual needle drop is normal and beneficial.
Martha Smith, Horticulture Educator with University of Illinois Extension said it well, "There is...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
Most people assume that established trees and shrubs can handle drought conditions. Often this is true, but the severe weather extremes that we've had in recent years has depleted reserves and stressed many plants.
Please don't...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I am continually impressed and humbled by what our University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners accomplish. Although they all deserve accolades, several of our local Master Gardeners were recently recognized at the 2017 Illinois...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
A team of eight University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners was awarded a teamwork award for their Wildlife Federation Mayor's Monarch Garden in Pekin, Illinois. The award was presented during University of Illinois Extension's...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
I love popcorn! Each year I buy kettle corn at one or more locations along the Spoon River Drive.
It is a good possibility that the popcorn I purchase was grown and packaged locally. Mason County, Illinois grows a lot of popcorn! In...
Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator
May Bach and Jennifer Bass were honored for their outstanding contributions to University of Illinois Extension's Master Gardener Program during the 2017 Illinois Master Gardener Conference in Normal.
May and Jennifer were among 36...
